Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu said the spirit of Kerala social reforms and progress resonates deeply with the values of Telangana state as well. He was the chief guest at the mass marriage of 400 couples organised by the Oachira Parabrahma Temple Administration Board at Oachira, Kollam district in Kerala on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Kerala Revenue Minister K. Rajan, MP K.C. Venugopal and MLA Ramesh Chennithala.
Mallu recalled that Kerala’s temples, like the Oachira temple, have historically been more than just places of worship. They have been centers of social reform, education and community building. Lauding the temple for its tradition of hosting mass marriages for several decades, Mallu said it was a reflection of the commitment to a more inclusive and just society and he was honoured to be at the temple, which had been a beacon of spiritual and social enlightenment for several decades.
“From the times of great temple entry movements that challenged caste-based discrimination to the efforts led by reformers like Sri Narayana Guru, Chattampi Swamikal and Ayyankali, temples in Kerala stood at the forefront of social change. They were the places that nurtured the ideals of equality and social justice long before such concepts were enshrined in the Constitution,” said the Deputy Chief Minister.
Recalling that the transformative movements that swept across Kerala in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were echoed in the rest of South India, said Mallu adding that Telangana too has a rich history of struggle and reform- from the Telangana peasant armed struggle against feudal oppression to the fight for separate statehood- which was
